I
think we live in one of the best places in the world for hiking. Ocean vistas, waterfalls, mountains, rivers
and valleys. Whether on a railway bed, local
urban path or at one of the many provincial or national parks, the choices are
endless. Best of all you don’t need to
be an experienced hiker to enjoy all that nature has provided. Hikes are frequently rated these days so you
always have a choice, from easy to challenging. Hiking is a perfect activity to connect
adults and children providing a unique opportunity to explore and discover
together.
Take
Taylor Head for example, a gorgeous provincial park and one that I have wanted
to visit for quite a few years now. This
park and it’s trails are regarded by hiking author Michael Haynes as one of his
favourites. I finally had the chance to
explore this area. There are several
trails to choose from and clearly colour coded with ratings. It was nice to know how long the hike would
take so that you could plan out how much of it you wanted to do and they all
end at the beach which was great!
Definitely worth the effort to get there.
Hiking
is something that does not take a lot of equipment or financial investment. Some sensible walking shoes, water and snacks
in a backpack and you are good to go. Even
if you have never walked before it is something that you can easily work
into. Start off with 10 or 15 minute walks
and go from there. Something as simple
as a walk in the park to begin. Take
your time on a hike, stop frequently as many hikes have marked spots to take in
the view. You never know what or who you may see.
Your
local recreation department can be a good place to start for maps of local
trails. Check out Hike Nova Scotia http://www.hikenovascotia.ca/ and Nova Scotia Trails http://www.novascotiatrails.com/ for inspiration and information. These groups are always ready to encourage
Nova Scotians to get out and discover our province. It’s good for the mind and the body and so
easy - just put one foot in front of the other.
The library has several books that can start you on the path of becoming a hiker. Check out these titles. Have fun!
Patricia Milner
Manager, Special Collection Access Services
Annapolis Valley Regional Library
No comments:
Post a Comment